Dispensing unit for sealed pressurized containers

ABSTRACT

A dispensing unit for simultaneously puncturing a plurality of sealed pressurized containers so that each container has open communication with a common dispensing tube that in turn has a closed valve end which, when threadably connected to a hose, will dispense all of the pressurized contents of the containers.

United States Patent I 1 l l Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Virgil Philipps Chicago, Ill.

May 25, 1970 Nov. 16, 1971 Federal Auto Products Co., Inc.

Chicago, Ill.

Continuation-impart of applicatlon Ser. No. 869,592, Oct. 27, 1969. Thisapplication May 25, 1970, Ser. No. 040,103

DISPENSING UNIT FOR SEALED PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS 2 Claims, 2 DrawingFigs.

[1.8. CI 222/5 B67b 7/24 Int. Cl

[50] Field oiSearch 83/631; 222/5, 91, 83.5, 80, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,864,534 i2/l958 Wrenn, Jr222/5 927,798 7/ i909 Hoff 222/5 Primary ExaminerStanley H. TollbergAttorney-Edward C. Threedy ABSTRACT: A dispensing unit forsimultaneously puncturing a plurality of sealed pressurized containersso that each container has open communication with a common dispensingtube that in turn has a closed valve end which, when threadablyconnected to a hose, will dispense all of the pressurized contents ofthe containers.

DISPENSING UNIT FOR SEALED PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS This application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application, Ser. No. 869,592 filedOct. 27, 1969.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A dispensing unit which includes a base forholding a plurality of scaled pressurized containers and which providesvertical support and guide posts for a common dispensing tube whichextends parallel to the base and which in turn provides a plurality ofpenetrating points for puncturing simultaneously each of the pressurizedcontainers, the dispensing tube being operatively associated with asingle rotatable control lever which moves the same upon the support andguide posts into and out of contact with the sealed pressurizedcontainers.

The dispensing tube is normally closed at one end and is provided at itsopposite end with a valve head which includes a valve stem carried by ahose-connecting core.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention will be best understood by referenceto the accompanying drawing which shows the preferred form of embodimentand in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing unit;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the operative partsof the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the dispensing unit of this invention includes abase provided with a plurality of circular recesses 11 which receive andposition a plurality of sealed pressurized containers 12 (shown indotted lines).

Extending vertically from the base 10 and between the recesses 11 are apair of rods 13. These rods may be connected to the base 10 by suitablenuts 14 which may be countersunk in the bottom wall surface of the baseas indicated by Fig. l.

Embracing the rods 13 and seated upon the top wall of the base 10 are apair of washers 15. These washers 15 act as a stop for coil springs 16which are coiled about the rods 13 throughout one-half of theirlongitudinal length. Engaging the top of the coil spring 16 are stopwashers 17 which are fixedly carried by the exposed ends of sleevemembers 18. These sleeve members 18 are journaled through and closeopenings 19 and 20 formed in the dispensing tube 21. The rods 13 havetheir upper exposed ends threaded as at 22 and receive thereon a commonconnecting plate 23. The connecting plate 23 is by a pair of nuts 24adjustably connected between the threaded ends 22 of the rods 13, asshown in Fig. 1.

Midway between the rods 13 and threadable through an opening 25 formedin the middle of the connecting plate 23, is the threaded shank 26 of aturnscrew 27. The exposed and 26' of the shank 26 of the turnscrew 27 isrounded so as to be seated in a curved depression 28 formed in a boss 29formed on the top wall portion of the dispensing tube 21.

The dispensing tube 21 is provided on its underside with a plurality ofcircular collars 30, 31 and 32, each of which has open communicationwith the interior passage 33 of the dispensing tube 21. Positionedwithin the collars 30, 31 and 32 and as more particularly shown in Fig.2, is a compressible seal 34 which encompasses a hollowed penetratingtube 35. By the tube 35 open communication is provided therethrough withthe interior passage of the dispensing tube 21.

One end of the dispensing tube 21 is normally closed. The opposite endprovides a dispensing valve head 36 which includes a valve passage 37and a valve stem 38. This valve construction is of a type well known inthe industry and is operative when a connecting hose is threaded uponthe valve head 36, which hose provides a corresponding valve stemdepressing member which opens the valve passage through the valve head36.

In operation. a plurality of sealed pressurized containers are placedupon the base 10 within the recesses 11 provided thereby, with thedispensing tube 21 raised upwardly u n the rods 1 After the containersare thus placed upon t e base 10, the dispensing tube 21 is permitted toslide down the rods 13 until the penetrating tubes 35 engage themetallic cover of each of the sealed pressurized containers. Theoperator then turns the turnscrew 27, which will thread itself throughits connection to the connecting plate 23 and have its curved end 26'bearing against the correspondingly formed seat 28 provided by thebushing 29 on the upper side of the dispensing tube 21, until thepenetrating tubes 35 puncture the tops of the sealed containers. At thistime the pressurized contents thereof will have open communication intothe hollow bore 33 of the dispensing tube 21 and when a suitable hose iscon nected to the valve head 36, such contents will be dispensedtherefrom.

The downward movement of the dispensing tube 21 through the action ofthe turnscrew 27, will move the sleeve members 18 carried therebyagainst the coil springs 16 which embrace the rods 13, so that when thecontainers are emptied and the turnscrew 27 is rotated in an oppositedirection, the springs 16 will raise the dispensing tube 21 out ofcontact with the containers 12 so that they may be readily removed.

By reason of the recesses 11 formed in the base 10 which are positionedrelative to the location of the penetrating tubes 35, as provided by theunderside of the dispensing tube 21, each of such penetrating tubes 35will be centered upon the pressurized containers and will properly andsimultaneously puncture all of the containers as desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispensing unit for sealed pressurized containers comprising a. abase support providing a plurality of recesses for positionablyreceiving a plurality of sealed containers,

b. a common dispensing tube carried by said base support in an elevatedposition with respect to the top of the containers,

c. means carried by said tube for penetrating the plurality ofcontainers positioned on said base support,

d. a pair of support rods for supporting said tube in an elevatedposition relative to the containers positioned on said base support andover which said tube moves so that said means carried thereby willsimultaneously penetrate all of the containers positioned on said base,said rods extending vertically from said base in horizontal alignmentand parallel to the containers supported thereon, said rods freelyjoumaled through sleeves connected to and passing through saiddispensing tube, with said sleeves and dispensing tube movable relativeto the longitudinal length of said rods and to the top of containersmounted on said base support,

e. means for moving said tube relative to said support rods and with itspenetrating means into piercing contact with said containers so as topermit passage of the pressurized contents of the containers into saiddispensing tube, and

f. a dispensing valve carried by said tube through which all of thepressurized contents of the containers are valved.

2. A dispensing unit as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for movingsaid tube relative to said support rods comprises a turnscrew extendingparallel to said support rods and having one end thereof in contact withsaid dispensing tube for moving said dispensing tube and said sleevesconnected thereto over said supporting rods so that said means carriedby said dispensing tube will simultaneously penetrate all of thecontainers positioned on said base support.

i t i t i

1. A dispensing unit for sealed pressurized containers comprising a. abase support providing a plurality of recesses for positionablyreceiving a plurality of sealed containers, b. a common dispensing tubecarried by said base support in an elevated position with respect to thetop of the containers, c. means carried by said tube for penetrating theplurality of containers positioned on said base support, d. a pair ofsupport rods for supporting said tube in an elevated position relativeto the containers positioned on said base support and over which saidtube moves so that said means carried thereby will simultaneouslypenetrate all of the containers positioned on said base, said rodsextending vertically from said base in horizontal alignment and parallelto the containers supported thereon, said rods freely journaled throughsleeves connected to and passing through said dispensing tube, with saidsleeves and dispensing tube movable relative to the longitudinal lengthof said rods and to the top of containers mounted on said base support,e. means for moving said tube relative to said support rods and with itspenetrating means into piercing contact with said containers so as topermit passage of the pressurized contents of the containers into saiddispensIng tube, and f. a dispensing valve carried by said tube throughwhich all of the pressurized contents of the containers are valved.
 2. Adispensing unit as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for moving saidtube relative to said support rods comprises a turnscrew extendingparallel to said support rods and having one end thereof in contact withsaid dispensing tube for moving said dispensing tube and said sleevesconnected thereto over said supporting rods so that said means carriedby said dispensing tube will simultaneously penetrate all of thecontainers positioned on said base support.